Tip of the Spear - United States Special Operations Command

Petry receives Medal of Honor .........................18Tip of the SpearAdm. Bill H. McRavenCommander, USSOCOMCSM Thomas SmithCommand Sergeant MajorCol. Tim NyePublic Affairs DirectorMike BottomsManaging EditorTech. Sgt. Larry W. Carpenter, Jr.NCOIC, Command InformationTech. Sgt. Heather KellyStaff WriterThis is a U.S. Special Operations Command publication. Contents are notnecessarily the official views of, or endorsed by, the U.S. Government,Department of Defense or USSOCOM. The content is edited, prepared andprovided by the USSOCOM Public Affairs Office, 7701 Tampa Point Blvd.,MacDill AFB, Fla., 33621, phone (813) 826-4600, DSN 299-4600. Anelectronic copy can be found at www.socom.mil. E-mail the editor viaunclassified network at public.affairs@socom.mil. The editor of the Tip ofthe Spear reserves the right to edit all copy presented for publication.(Cover) President Barack Obama awards the Medal of Honor to Sgt. 1st Class Leroy A. Petry at the White House inWashington, D.C., July 12. Photo by Army Spc. David M. Sharp.Tip of the Spear2

HighlightsDepartmentsChange of CommandAdm. McRaven takes command of USSOCOM ... 4Component changes of command ... 6SOF Around the WorldAdm. McRaven assumescommand............................4Tactical Combat Casualty Care in Croatia ... 8Valor within our ranks ... 10Fuerzas Comando 2011 in El Salvador ... 12Special Feature - Ranger receives Medal of HonorRanger Petry receives Medal of Honor ... 18Air Force Special Operations CommandFuerzasComando2011...........12New commander: AFSOC packs a punch ... 24Naval Special Warfare CommandSEALs gather to celebrate, remember past ... 26Marine Corps Forces Special Operations CommandFirst Lambertsen Award presented to MARSOC NCO ... 28HeadquartersGreen Beret summits Mount Everest ... 30Green Beret summitsMount Everest.....................30International ideas converge to promote security ... 34Fallen heroes ... 38Tip of the Spear3

Adm. Bill H. McRaven gives remarks during the U.S. Special Operations Command change of command ceremony held at theDavis Conference Center, MacDill Air Force Base, Fla., Aug. 8. McRaven assumed command from Adm. Eric T. Olson and is theninth commander of USSOCOM. Photo by Mike Bottoms.USSOCOM welcomes new commanderBy Tech. Sgt. Heather KellyUSSOCOM Public AffairsAdm. Bill H. McRaven assumed command of U.S.Special Operations Command from Adm. Eric T. Olsonduring a change of command ceremony Aug 8. at the DavisConference Center, MacDill Air Force Base, Fla.Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta presided over theceremony, praising Olson for the work he and the commandhave accomplished.Tip of the Spear4“Eric is beloved by those under his command,” saidPanetta. “As he says, humans are more important thanhardware, and quality is more important than quantity. Andthat’s exactly where his focus has been here at SOCOM –finding, caring for and keeping the highest quality people.“As a result of his hard work, we now have the besttrained,the best-equipped and the most experienced SpecialOperations Force in the history of the United States.”Panetta also acknowledged Olson’s operationalcontributions, highlighting his efforts during the 1993 Black

Hawk down battle in Mogadishu.“It was then-Commander Olson who led a groundconvoy to rescue his comrades fighting for their lives againsthundreds of enemy fighters who had them surrounded.“That mission showed Eric’s extraordinary courage, hiswarrior spirit, his inspired leadership and the overwhelmingcare and concern he has for his comrades-in-arms. All traitsthat he has demonstrated again and again throughout hisstoried career.”During the ceremony, a moment of silence was observedto honor the U.S. servicemembers and Afghan National Armycommandos killed during recent events in Afghanistan.“We will honor the fallen by showing the world ourunyielding determination to press ahead, to move forwardwith the hard work that must be done to protect our country,”said Panetta.McRaven becomes the ninth commander of USSOCOMand responsible for all Army, Navy, Air Force and MarineCorps Special Operations Forces. USSOCOM is theDepartment of Defense’s lead command for planning andsynchronizing the global war against violent extremistorganizations.“I can’t think of anyone better suited to help succeedAdmiral Olson in this tough job and manage the continuedgrowth of SOCOM than another Navy SEAL, Admiral BillMcRaven,” Panetta said.“He is one of the military’s outstanding strategic thinkersand leaders, who has always kept faith with those servingdownrange.”McRaven thanked Secretary Panetta and remindedeveryone of the importance of USSOCOM’s mission.“The world today is as unpredictable as ever,” saidMcRaven. “And as such, the American people will expect usto be prepared for every contingency, to answer every call toarms, to venture where other forces cannot, and to win everyfight no matter how tough or how long.“They will expect it because we are the nation’s SpecialOperations Force, and Mr. Secretary, we will not let themdown,” McRaven concluded.McRaven most recently served as the commander of theJoint Special Operations Command headquartered at FortBragg, N.C.He has also commanded at every level within the SpecialOperations community, including assignments as thecommander of Special Operations Command Europe,director of the NATO Special Operations ForcesCoordination Centre, deputy commanding general forOperations at JSOC, commodore of Naval Special WarfareDefense Secretary Leon E. Panetta and Adm. Bill H. McRavenapplaud Adm. Eric T. Olson during the U.S. Special OperationsCommand change of command ceremony held at the DavisConference Center, MacDill Air Force Base, Fla., Aug. 8.McRaven assumed command and became the ninthcommander of USSOCOM. Photo by Mike Bottoms.Group 1, commander of Seal Team 3, Task GroupCommander in the Central Command area of responsibility,Task Unit Commander during Desert Storm and DesertShield, squadron commander at Naval Special WarfareDevelopment Group, and SEAL platoon commander atUnderwater Demolition Team 21/SEAL Team 4.His professional education includes assignment to theNaval Postgraduate School, where he helped establish andwas the first graduate from the Special Operations/Low-Intensity Conflict curriculum.Olson, the first Navy SEAL to be promoted to three- andlater four-star rank, will retire in August after 38 years ofservice to the nation.“My most powerful memories will be of the individualpeople who selflessly serve or served,” Olson said. “I’ve hadthe opportunity to meet them at their headquarters, trainingareas and forward bases, hospitals and recovery centers.“Their motivation is strong, their skills are incredible,their bravery in the face of the enemy is unflinching, theirspirit is unwavering and their families are impressive almostbeyond belief… I admire each of you for all you have doneand continue to do.“To serve as commander has been the highest of honors,”Olson said. “This is a force of which America can and shouldbe intensely proud. And it is a force that America surelyneeds.”Tip of the Spear5

SOCOM changes of commandNaval Special Warfare CommandAdm. Eric T. Olson, (center) USSOCOM commander,watches as Rear Adm. Edward G. Winters (left) andRear Adm. Sean A. Pybus (right) salute at the NavalSpecial Warfare Command change of commandceremony held at Coronado, Calif., June 30. Pybusrelieved Winters as commander of Naval SpecialWarfare Command. Photo by Navy Petty Officer 2ndClass Dominique M. Lasco.Air Force Special Operations CommandAir Force Lt. Gen. Eric Fiel (right), accepts commandof Air Force Special Operations Command from AirForce Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz, HurlburtField, Fla., June 24. Fiel was the vice commander,Headquarters U.S. Special Operations Command,Washington, D.C., before taking command of AFSOC.Photo by Air Force Staff Sgt. Julianne M. Showalter.Special Operations Command - CentralMarine Gen. James Mattis, (center) U.S. CentralCommand commander, presides over the SpecialOperations Command - Central change of commandceremony where Army Maj. Gen. Charles T. Cleveland(left) relinquished command to Army Brig. Gen. KenTovo (right) at MacDill Air Force Base, Fla., July 29.Courtesy photo.Special Operations Command - PacificNavy Adm. Robert F. Willard, U.S. Pacific Commandcommander, (center) presides over the SpecialOperations Command - Pacific change of commandceremony where Navy Rear Adm. Sean A. Pybus (left)is relieved by Air Force Maj. Gen. Norman J. BrozenickJr. (right), Camp H.M. Smith, Hawaii, June 9. Photo byMarine Sgt. Peter J. Thibodeau.Tip of the Spear6

Combined Forces Special OperationsComponent Command – Afghanistan(Left to right) Army Brig. Gen. Scott Miller, Army Gen.David H. Petraeus, International Security AssistanceForce former commander, and Army Brig. Gen.Christopher Haas, incoming CFSOCC-A commander,render honors during the CFSOCC-A change ofcommand ceremony July 1 in Kabul, Afghanistan.Courtesy photo.7th Special ForcesGroup (A)Army Col. AntonioFletcher took commandof 7th SFG (A) in aceremony at Eglin AirForce Base, Fla., July 8.Army Brig. Gen. EdwardReeder Jr., (left) ArmySpecial ForcesCommand (Airborne)commander, passesFletcher the commandflag. Courtesy photo.1st SpecialOperations WingAir Force Col. JamesSlife (right) acceptscommand of the 1stSpecial OperationsWing from Air ForceSpecial OperationsCommand commanderLt. Gen. Eric Fiel,Hurlburt Field, Fla.,June 29. Photo by AirForce Staff Sgt.Stephanie Jacobs.Joint Special Operations Task Force –PhilippinesArmy Col. Fran Beaudette, Joint Special OperationsTask Force Philippines incoming commander, speaksduring a change of command ceremony atZamboanga, Philippines. Beaudette assumedcommand June 24. Photo by Navy Petty Officer 1stClass Cassandra Thompson.75th RangerRegimentArmy Col. Mark W.Odom (left) acceptscommand of the 75thRanger Regiment fromArmy Lt. Gen. JohnMulholland, USASOCcommander, atSoldiers Field,National InfantryMuseum, FortBenning, Ga., July 28.Photo by Tracy Bailey.27th SpecialOperations WingAir Force Col. AlbertElton II, (right) acceptscommand of the 27thSpecial OperationsWing from Lt. Gen. EricFiel, AFSOCcommander, at thechange of commandceremony at Cannon AirForce Base, N.M., July8. Photo by Air ForceAirman Ericka Engblom.Tip of the Spear7

A Latvian Special Forces medic conducts first aid on asimulated casualty with limited visibility during the FieldTraining Exercise as part of the Tactical CombatCasualty Care (TCCC) course held in Udbina, Croatia.U.S. Special Operations Command Europe developedand conducted the TCCC Train-the-Trainer course toenhance the SOF capability and interoperability of SOFmedics from eight NATO and partner nations toincorporate one recognized standard for managingtrauma on the battlefield.Tip of the Spear8

151) A Romanian, left, and Lithuanian Special Forces Medic,right, debates over the best method to evacuate simulatedcasualties to safety during the Field Training Exercise aspart of the Tactical Combat Casualty Care course held inUdbina, Croatia.22) Croatian SOF medics evacuate a simulated casualty tosafety as a Hungarian Special Forces medic evaluates theirperformance.3) A Croatian Special Forces Medic provides hand and armsignals to land a Mi-17 aircraft to pick up simulatedcasualties during a field training exercise as part of theTactical Combat Casualty Care.4) A team of multinational Special Operations Forces medicsfrom Hungary, Croatia and Ukraine hurries across an openfield to take a simulated casualty to an awaiting aircraft.5) A team of multinational Special Operations Forces medicsfrom Hungary, Croatia and Ukraine evacuates a simulatedcasualty to a Croatian Mi-17.34Tip of the Spear9

Tip of the Spear10Valor within our ranksTask Force 10 Operators garner numerous awardsStory and photo by Army Master Sgt. Donald SparksSOCEUR Public AffairsSpecial Operations Forces personnel from the 1stBattalion, 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne), 321stSpecial Tactics Squadron, and Special OperationsCommand Europe gathered at Patch Barracks, Stuttgart,Germany, to pay homage to and witness the presentation oftwo Silver Star Medals, 11 Bronze Stars with Valor, andone Army Commendation Medal with Valor during aceremony June 13.Master Sgt. William “Joe” Dickinson and Staff Sgt.Adam Dorner, both of 1/10 SFG (A), were formallypresented their Silver Star Award by Adm. Eric T. Olson,commander, U.S. Special Operations Command.Olson particularly praised the families of the SOFcommunity for their role in supporting their operators.“This has to be a family affair,” Olson said. “TheSoldiers and Airmen are not who they are without thefamily support behind them, so it’s great for them to behere. I recognize that every time we ask something of theservicemember we are asking just as much of the unitinfrastructure – the families. It is their sacrifices that makethese missions possible and I thank you all.”As part of the ceremony a personal video from ISAFCommander Gen. David Petraeus was presented to theaudience highlighting not only the courage of the Soldiersand Airmen, but also recognizing the success of Task Force10’s continuous rotation of Special Operations Forces tosupport the ISAF mission.In praising the men for their valorous actions on thebattlefield, Maj. Gen. Michael Repass, SOCEURcommander, said, “They are men who are humble in theirdaily life yet extraordinary in every aspect of combat.These are men of deeds and not words. As a result youwould otherwise not know anything about them and whatthey did in combat, what they accomplished when it wastheir time to act under extreme circumstances.”Dickinson – Right Place, Right TimeDickinson, an operations sergeant to U.S. SpecialOperations Task Unit-0112, Special Operations Task Force-10, distinguished himself by exceptional heroism whileengaged in direct combat against invading insurgent forcesat Bagram Airfield on May 19, 2010.Realizing the base was under attack, Dickinson and hisfive-man team gathered their weapons and body armor andmaneuvered toward an inner perimeter wall 120 metersaway while exposed to enemy RPG and tracer fire.“We gathered our weapons and equipment, it took us alittle while to get there,” Dickinson said. “The AH-64swere on site pretty fast and there was some dangerous close30 millimeter fire going on. I knocked a few of them(Taliban) down.”Reaching the inner perimeter, Dickinson and the teamengaged and killed three insurgents who had breached theouter perimeter wall. He then led two other team membersto the outer perimeter wall, evading grenades being thrownby enemy forces on the other side.Countering with their own grenades, Dickinson and histeam secured their position and observed that the threeinsurgents from their first engagement were dressed in theU.S. Army Combat Uniform and equipped with suicidevests, hand grenades, RPGs, and AK-47 assault rifles.“Once we got a handle on the situation and saw thatthey were in ACUs, I knew that was going to be a problem– a really bad problem, as they were not quicklyidentifiable to friendly forces on Bagram,” Dickinson said.“So I made the decision to go outside the outer wallbecause the guard towers didn’t cover all the dead space.”Coordinating with the Bagram Air Field guard towers,the team decided to clear the dead space on the other sideof the outer perimeter. Though exposed to enemyobservation, Dickinson led four other team members overthe wall. Four additional deceased insurgents wereidentified immediately on the other side. Another, stillliving, tried to arm his suicide vest and was quicklyneutralized by Dickinson and members of the element.The team was then informed that 20 insurgents werereportedly massing 800 meters southwest of their position.Realizing the imminent threat, the SOTU-0112 Team

Leader organized a voluntary patrol of five SOTU-0112Soldiers, two Combined Joint Special Operations TaskForce Soldiers, and six TF Morgan Soldiers.Dickinson fearlessly took point in the front, skirting theBAF perimeter to close with and engage the assaultingenemy. Approximately one kilometer into the patrol, thenumber eight man stepped on an anti-personnel mine andwas severely injured. Without hesitation, Dickinson ran 20meters from the front of the patrol to give first aid andsaved the life of the TF Morgan Soldier.After helping to extract the Soldier over the wall, hethen grabbed a mine detector from an engineer on theperimeter, scaled the wall a final time, and cleared a path forthe four patrol members still in harm’s way.Dorner – Dangerous SprinterDorner, a weapons sergeant for SOTU-0116, SOTF-10, distinguished himself by valorous actions against theenemy while deployed to Logar Province, Afghanistan. OnAug. 17, 2010, SOTU-0116 was enabling 20 Afghan NationSecurity Forces members to perform route reconnaissancealong Route New York.While moving south to north, the unit discovered apressure-plate Improvised Explosive Device ahead of theconvoy. While clearing the IED, the patrol found itself in acomplex ambush, engaged by 10-12 insurgents occupyingtwo fighting positions 300 meters to the east. The enemyopened fire with 82mm mortars, RPGs, PKM light machineguns and AK-47 assault rifles against the team.“Me and two other teammates were on a flankingelement pulling outside security when my gun went down,”said Dorner, who was out in the open during the attackwhen his weapon malfunctioned.Dorner realized the SOTU’s 60mm mortar wasessential to continue the fight and repel the enemy, so withdisregard for his own life, he ran over 150 meters souththrough flat, open terrain paralleling enemy fightingpositions to reach the SOTU’s RG-33 vehicle and mortarsystem.Despite the RPG rounds detonating within 30 meters ofhis location, Dorner emplaced the mortar tube and delivered10 accurate, high-explosive rounds on the insurgentpositions. As a direct result, the SOTU-0116 leadership wasable to reorganize and direct maneuver elements intoposition and request emergency Close Air Support.Informed that the AH-64 Air Weapons Team overheadwas unable to effectively target the enemy positions, theteam assessed the only way to eliminate the insurgents wasby direct assault. Dorner hastily prepared and led amaneuver element consisting of seven ANSF and threeSOTU-0116 members to engage and assault the enemyforces.“We just started assaulting through the objective,” saidDorner who fearlessly took point for his element and led abold assault across 300 meters of open terrain. “The enemyactually reinitiated two or three times with machine gunfire. But once we started taking the fight to them they beganto quit. We won the day that day.”Other valor award recipients were:Army Capt. Craig Bighouse, Bronze Star w/ValorArmy Sgt. 1st Class Michael Murray, Bronze Star w/ValorArmy Sgt. 1st Class McKenna Miller, Bronze Star w/ValorArmy Sgt. 1st Class Rod Reschel, Bronze Star w/ValorArmy Staff Sgt. Sabriel Ashley, Bronze Star w/ValorArmy Staff Sgt. Robert “Al”Murray, Bronze Star w/ValorArmy Staff Sgt. Patrick Roberts, Bronze Star w/ValorArmy Staff Sgt. Richard Telck, Bronze Star w/ValorAir Force Staff Sgt. David Ibsen, Bronze Star w/ValorAir Force Staff Sgt. Theodore Hofknecht, Bronze Star w/ValorArmy Pfc. William Langley, Bronze Star w/ValorArmy Staff Sgt. Ricky Streeter, Army CommendationMedal w/ValorServicemembers assigned to 1st Battalion, 10th Special ForcesGroup (Airborne) and 321st Special Tactics Squadron standalongside family members and friends at the conclusion of avalor ceremony held June 13 at Patch Barracks in Stuttgart,Germany. The event recognized 14 valor award recipients fortheir courage and gallantry while assigned to SpecialOperations Task Force 10 in Afghanistan.Tip of the Spear11

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United States Special OperationsSoldiers perform a demonstration of an“Integrated Assault” for the FuerzasComando competition June 20. FuerzasComando, established in 2004, is a U.S.Southern Command-sponsored SpecialOperations skills competition andsenior leader seminar conductedannually in Central and South Americaand the Caribbean. Photo by Army Spc.Bethany L. Little.Tip of the Spear13

The Dominican Special Operations Sniper Team prepares for the Stalk event of Fuerzas Comando 2011, June 16, at ShangalloRange, outside San Salvador. Fuerzas Comando, established in 2004, is a U.S. Southern Command-sponsored special forcesskills competition. Photo by Army Spc. Casey Collier.Elite commandos from 19 countries participated inFuerzas Comando 2011, a demanding counterterrorism andspecial operations skills competition sponsored by U.S.Southern Command to promote military-to-militaryrelationships, increased interoperability and improvedregional security.The competitors, from throughout Central and SouthAmerica and the Caribbean, are taking part in the eighthannual competition that kicked off June 15 and continuesthrough June 23 in Ilopango, El Salvador, said Air ForceMaj. Brett Phillips, the lead Fuerzas Comando planner forU.S. Special Operations Command South.The El Salvadoran military hosted this year’s exercise,with participants from Bahamas, Belize, Brazil, Chile,Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, ElSalvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Paraguay,Panama, Peru, Trinidad and Tobago, Uruguay and theUnited States.The competition consists of sniper, assault, physicalfitness, strength and endurance events that challengecommandos psychologically as well as physically, Phillipssaid.Among this year’s events was a timed 18.8-kilometerforced march, with six-man teams from each countrycarrying 30-pound rucksacks and rifles, and a series ofsniper competitions that include target acquisition, rangeestimation and night shooting events.While special operators tested out their tactical skills, aconcurrent senior-leader seminar provided a strategic-levelfocus to security challenges and possible solutions. Twentyfournations sent a senior special operations officer,typically the brigade-level commander of the country’scommando team, and a ministerial-level policymakerassociated with the country’s counterterrorism policies,Tip of the Spear14

procedures and strategies, to participate in the two-daydistinguished visitor program, Phillips said.“That’s when they talk about the regionalcounterterrorism projects and programs that are in place,they talk about trans-national threats, they talk about illicittrafficking and how to combat that,” he said. “That iswhere you are addressing those strategic-level thoughtprocesses and objectives.”Phillips called this two-part approach key to fosteringrelationships throughout the ranks that pay off in closerregional cooperation, enhanced mutual trust and increasedmilitary interoperability as it advances the counterterrorismtraining and readiness of participating specialoperations forces.“It’s the strategic level, with the commanders andstrategic thinkers from that country, all the way down to thetactical level, where the teams that go and break down thedoors and go save people, or, depending upon theirrequirement, they eliminate a threat,” he said.There’s another dimension to Fuerzas Comando aswell. As commandos compete and their leaders convene,staff members from each participating country operated asa combined staff, providing administrative, logistical,medical, communications and other support.This, Phillips explained, gives the staffs experiencethey would need to work together during a real-worldcontingency.While Fuerzas Comando has sparked some healthycompetition among participants, “the camaraderie and thefraternity between these teams from all these differentcountries has been just exceptional,” he said.When the commandos weren’t competing, they sharedtheir operational experiences and ideas with other teamsand compared different tactics, techniques and procedures.This promotes cooperation and learning, along with a betterunderstanding of how different countries’ militariesoperate, Phillips said.It also lays a foundation for relationships, he said, thatcould have a big payoff in the future as commandosadvance to increasingly responsible positions within theirrespective militaries.“Now, if there is a conflict,” he added, “it is a lot morelikely that the conflict will be resolved between two chiefsof staff who know each other, who have had a relationshipon a personal side as well as professional, and they canresolve their problems in a more practical manner thanresorting to armed conflict.”Phillips said he’s seen past competitors who’d risenthrough the ranks return to Fuerzas Comando as seniormilitary commanders or government officials to participatein the strategic-level distinguished visitor forum.“That’s our dream that we are seeing realized,” Phillipssaid. “These younger team leads from years ago are nowgrowing in rank and position and soon will be able to pickup the phone and talk to Juan or Jose or Jorge or whoeverthey competed against 10, 15 years ago as a team member,”and bring the benefit of shared operational expertise tostrategic-level conversations.Phillips said he’s also encouraged by the growth of theFuerzas Comando, which began in 2004 with 13 countries.“It just grows and gets better every year,” he said.U.S. Navy Rear Adm. Thomas L. Brown II,commander of Special Operations Command South,thanked participants during the opening ceremonies at ElSalvador’s Special Counterterrorism Command specialoperations center for the dedication they have brought tothe competition and to regional security.“You represent the world’s finest warriors, sacrificingdaily to defend and protect the freedom and security of thecitizens of the Western Hemisphere,” the admiral told theparticipants.A Panamanian special operations member fires his rifle duringthe Pistol and Rifle Qualification event June 16, at the CentroEspecial Anti-Terrorista compound, El Salvador. Photo byArmy Sgt. Luke Rollins.Tip of the Spear15

21) Col. Jesus Daniel Serrano Cea of the El SalvadoranArmy salutes the colors during the opening ceremony ofFuerzas Comando 2011 June 15 at the Comando EspecialAnti-Terrorista compound, Ilopango, El Salvador. Photoby Army Sgt. Luke Rollins.2) A Guatemalan competitor does push ups trying to helphis team win the first event, the physical fitness test, inthis year’s Fuerzas Comando competition held atIlopango, El Salvador. Photo by Army Sgt. Monique Tindal.3) The Chilean special operations team brings its raftashore June 20 at the aquatic event of Fuerzas Comando2011 at Costa del Sol, El Salvador. Photo by Army StaffSgt. Daniel Shapiro.13Tip of the Spear16

6474) A member of the assault team from Trinidad and Tobagodrags a weighted dummy during the “Stress Event” of theFuerzas Comando, Shingallo Range, El Salvador, June 19.Photo by Army Sgt. Casey A. Collier.5) The spotter from the two-man sniper team assists thesniper during the shooting from unknown distances eventat Fuerzas Comando 2011 June 19, llopango, El Salvador.Photo by Army Staff Sgt. Nicole L Howell.6) Special Operations Sniper Teams begin the Stalk eventof Fuerzas Comando 2011, June 16, Shangallo Range, ElSalvador. Photo by Army Sgt. Casey A. Collier.57) Chilean Special Operations team completes the 16.8kilometers-long “Forced March” event during the FuerzasComando 2011 competition June 18. Photo by Army Sgt.Monique Tindal.Tip of the Spear17

Medal of Honor recipient Sgt. 1st Class Leroy A. Petry receives a standing ovation from President Barack Obama and guestsin the East Room of the White House, July 12. Photo by J.D. Leipold.By Megan NeunanArmy News ServiceSgt. 1st Class Leroy A. Petry received the Medalof Honor from President Barack Obama during ahistoric ceremony in the East Room of the WhiteHouse July 12.Petry is only the second active-dutyservicemember since Vietnam to live to accept thenation’s highest military honor. The first Soldier,Staff Sgt. Salvatore Giunta, was seated in theaudience that included Vice President Joe Biden,Army senior leaders, several rows of decorated ArmyRangers, and more than 100 of Petry’s family andTip of the Spear18

friends, including his wife, mother, father,grandparents, brothers and four children.“This could not be happening to a nicer guy or amore inspiring family,” the president said. “Leroy,the Medal of Honor reflects the deepest gratitude ofour entire nation.”Obama took the audience back to May 26, 2008,to Paktya, Afghanistan. It was the day Petry’s act ofconspicuous gallantry saved the lives of Sgt. DanielHiggins and Pfc. Lucas Robinson.The presidentexplained how Petry andmembers of his Co. D,2nd Bn., 75th RangerRegiment, took on a raredaylight raid on aninsurgent compound topursue a top al-Qaidacommander sequesteredinside, and how themission left Petry andtwo of his comradeswithin feet of a liveenemy grenade.Petry was alreadyshot through both legs,but with no regard for hislife, still took action tosave comrades Higginsand Robinson fromcertain death.“Every human impulse would tell someone toturn away. Every Soldier is trained to seek cover.That’s what Sergeant Leroy Petry could havedone,” Obama said. “Instead, this woundedRanger, this 28-year-old man whohad his whole life ahead of him,this husband and father of four didsomething extraordinary -- helunged forward toward the livegrenade. He picked it up. Hecocked his arm to throw it back.What compels such courage thatleads a person to risk everything sothat others might live?”Petry shook hands with the president today usinga robotic hand, which replaced the one he lost whenthe grenade detonated as Petry released it.The day of the incident, even the loss of his handfailed to fluster him, though. Obama marveled thatthe war hero applied a tourniquet himself and thenradioed for help.“The service ofLeroy Petry speaks to thevery essence of America --that spirit that says, nomatter how hard the journey,no matter how steep the climb,we don’t quit,” Obama said.Petry’s calm handling of a highlydangerous mission allowed otherRangers to kill enemy fighters. Spc.Christopher“Every human impulse would tell someoneto turn away. Every Soldier is trained toseek cover. That’s what Sergeant LeroyPetry could have done. Instead, thiswounded Ranger, this 28-year-old man whohad his whole life ahead of him, thishusband and father of four did somethingextraordinary -- he lunged forward towardthe live grenade. He picked it up. He cockedhis arm to throw it back. What compelssuch courage that leads a person to riskeverything so that others might live?”— President Barack H. ObamaGathercole gavehis life in thebattle. Gathercole’sbrother, sister andgrandmother stood as theaudience gave them athunderous round ofapplause in his honor.Obama shared that inan earlier meeting in theOval Office, Petrydisplayed a plaque he hasmounted on hismechanical hand thatbears the names ofGathercole and otherSoldiers the regiment haslost.Higgins and Robinsonwere able to celebratewith Petry at the White House.“This is the stuff of which heroes are made,”Obama said. “This is the strength, the devotion thatmakes our troops the pride of every American.And this is the reason that -- like aSoldier named Leroy Petry --America doesn’t simply endure,we emerge from our trialsstronger, more confident, with oureyes fixed on the future.”Petry continues his work tohelp wounded warriors. After reenlisting,he even returned toAfghanistan for an eighth combattour last year.“Today we honor a singular act of gallantry,”Obama said in closing, “yet as we near the 10thanniversary of the attacks that thrust our nation intowar, this is also an occasion to pay tribute to aSoldier and a generation that has borne the burden ofour security during a hard decade of sacrifice.”Tip of the Spear19

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1) Sgt. 1st Class Leroy A. Petrystands in front of the 2nd RangerBattalion memorial at Fort Lewis,Wash. Courtesy photo.2) Petry re-enlists for indefinitestatus at Fort Lewis, Wash., in May of2010. Courtesy photo.3) Petry before going out on amission in Afghanistan. Courtesyphoto.4) While on patrol Petry standsbetween two teammates on anobjective in Afghanistan. Courtesyphoto.23 4Tip of the Spear21

Medal of Honor recipient Sgt. 1st Class Leroy A. Petry looks at the Hall of Heroes plaque now bearing his name after it isunveiled during a ceremony at the Pentagon, July 13. Photo by Air Force Tech. Sgt. Jacob N. Bailey.Tip of the Spear22

The President of the United States of America,authorized by Act of Congress, March 3, 1863,has awarded in the name of Congress the Medal of Honor toStaff Sergeant Leroy A. PetryUnited States ArmyFor conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call ofduty:Staff Sergeant Leroy A. Petry distinguished himself by acts of gallantry and intrepidity at therisk of his life above and beyond the call of duty in action with an armed enemy in the vicinityof Paktya Province, Afghanistan, on May 26, 2008. As a Weapons Squad Leader with DCompany, 2nd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, Staff Sergeant Petry moved to clear thecourtyard of a house that potentially contained high-value combatants. While crossing thecourtyard, Staff Sergeant Petry and another Ranger were engaged and wounded by automaticweapons fire from enemy fighters. Still under enemy fire, and wounded in both legs, StaffSergeant Petry led the other Ranger to cover. He then reported the situation and engaged theenemy with a hand grenade, providing suppression as another Ranger moved to his position.The enemy quickly responded by maneuvering closer and throwing grenades. The first grenadeexplosion knocked his two fellow Rangers to the ground and wounded both with shrapnel. Asecond grenade then landed only a few feet away from them. Instantly realizing the danger, StaffSergeant Petry, unhesitatingly and with complete disregard for his safety, deliberately andselflessly moved forward, picked up the grenade, and in an effort to clear the immediate threat,threw the grenade away from his fellow Rangers. As he was releasing the grenade it detonated,amputating his right hand at the wrist and further injuring him with multiple shrapnel wounds.Although picking up and throwing the live grenade grievously wounded Staff Sergeant Petry, hisgallant act undeniably saved his fellow Rangers from being severely wounded or killed. Despitethe severity of his wounds, Staff Sergeant Petry continued to maintain the presence of mind toplace a tourniquet on his right wrist before communicating the situation by radio in order tocoordinate support for himself and his fellow wounded Rangers. Staff Sergeant Petry’sextraordinary heroism and devotion to duty are in keeping with the highest traditions of militaryservice, and reflect great credit upon himself, 75th Ranger Regiment, and the United StatesArmy.Tip of the Spear23

By Rachel ArroyoAFSOC Public AffairsNew CC: AFSOC packs a punchThere is nothing Lt. Gen. Eric Fiel enjoys more thanto deploy as part of a joint team.So to be back among the Airmen who do it the mostas commander of Air Force Special OperationsCommand is both humbling and exciting, he said.“I cannot imagine any other command in the AirForce that is more forward postured and forwarddeployed than AFSOC,” Fiel said.If given the opportunity to sit down with each AirCommando, the first words out of his mouth would be“thank you.” Thank you for having the courage andingenuity to get the job done and for sacrificing timewith family in order to do it.“I’d thank each individual, but more importantly, I’dthank their families as well,” he said.Fiel, who took command of AFSOC in June, hascome full circle. His first assignment out of navigatorand electronic warfare officer training brought him toHurlburt Field, Fla. where he was an MC-130E CombatTalon electronic warfare officer, instructor and executiveofficer assigned to the 8thSpecial OperationsSquadron.Approximately 13years of his 30-year careerhave been spent atHurlburt Field and haveincluded assignments aschief of the electroniccombat division at the23rd Air Force, director ofoperations at the 18thFlight Test Squadron andcommander of the 4thSpecial OperationsSquadron.After being promotedto brigadier general, Fielreturned to Hurlburt Field in 2005 to direct all AFSOCoperations. His most recent assignment was as vicecommander,Headquarters U.S.Special OperationsCommand,Washington D.C.Eleven yearsspent in joint andcombat assignmentshave reinforced theimpact SpecialOperations Forceshave working as ateam in theater.“We usuallyprovide one hell of a punch to any combatant“Everyone has their service affiliation andtheir patch, but when you’re forwarddeployed, patches come off. Everyone wearsthe same flight suits and uniform, so it is trulya SOF team. The Army Special Forces guycannot do his job without us. Neither can theSEAL. They’ve got to have mobility, they’vegot to have fire support, they’ve got to haveintelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance,or they’re walking.”— Lt. Gen. Eric FielLt. Gen. Eric Fielcommander,” Fiel said. “There’s not much a SOF teamcan’t solve.”The combatant commanders’ focus is directed towardthe operational capabilities of the joint team, the generalsaid, emphasizing AFSOC cannot complete the missionwithout its Army, Navy and Marine Corps counterparts.“Everyone has their service affiliation and theirpatch, but when you’re forward deployed, patches comeoff,” Fiel said. “Everyonewears the same flight suitsand uniform, so it is trulya SOF team. The ArmySpecial Forces guy cannotdo his job without us.Neither can the SEAL.They’ve got to havemobility, they’ve got tohave fire support, they’vegot to have intelligence,surveillance andreconnaissance, or they’rewalking.”This impact has Fielconfident AFSOC willhold up well in the face ofimpending Department ofDefense budget cuts. For an organization that is allocatedapproximately one percent of the Air Force budget,Tip of the Spear24

AFSOC is a bargain.“We are a relatively cheap organization with highpayoff, so I think we’ll do okay,” he said. “But I thinkwe need to focus on quality, not quantity, because thebigger you get, the harder it is to maintain that qualityedge.”Over the course of the next 60 days, Fiel will beconducting a “Health of the Force” assessment that willfocus on combat readiness, force structure andinfrastructure.It will culminate in the October release of fiscal year2012 “AFSOC Commander’s Guidance.”Fiel will brief the state of the command to both theChief of Staff of the Air Force and the commander ofUSSOCOM following the close of the assessment.While the budget is of concern, it is not what keepsFiel awake at night.“The thing that bothers me the most is waiting forthe phone call - that we lost another Airman - and youknow it’s going to happen because we’ve been doing thisfor ten years,” the general said. “I think to myself, havewe done everything we possibly can to keep our Airmenforward deployed in a safe manner?”The SOF truth “humans are more important thanhardware” resonates with Fiel. His first piece of adviceto Airmen centers on family.“Make sure that you take care of your family becausethe higher rates of deployments put a lot of pressures onthe family unit,” he said.Problems at home can often yield problems at work,making it difficult for Airmen to perform on the job.While it can be a challenge to balance the two, the NewYork native said, Airmen should do their best to take careof not only their families, but their teammates’ families.Fiel credits his own wife and son for support thatenables him to serve.“I love deploying. I absolutely do. But my wife andson have paid the price,” Fiel said. “They’ve allowed meto go do what I absolutely love doing, and that's why Ijoined.”Their commitment to the mission, in addition to thecommitment of the Air Commando, distinguishesAFSOC.“We work at it,” Fiel said. “We’re not perfect.There’s always room for improvement, but at the end ofthe day, it’s the family that makes SOF special.”Air Guardmember namedone of AF's top 12Air Force Staff Sgt. John Norris, a tactical air controlparty specialist with the Pennsylvania Air NationalGuard’s 193rd Special Operations Wing, worksalongside soldiers of the 101st Airborne Division duringhis deployment to the Kunar province, Afghanistan, inlate 2010. Air Force officials announced July 14, thatNorris was selected as one of the 12 Outstanding Airmenof the Year. Courtesy photo.Tip of the Spear25

A Navy SEAL platoon performs a land warfare demonstration from a SH-60 Sea Hawk helicopter during a capabilitiesdemonstration at Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek, Va., July 16. The Naval Special Warfare Community displayed itscapabilities as part of the 42nd UDT/SEAL East Coast Reunion celebrations. Photo by Senior Chief Petty Officer Robert Fluegel.By Petty Officer 3rd Class James GintherNSWG 2 Public AffairsThe Naval Special Warfare community held its42nd annual East Coast Underwater Demolition Team(UDT)/SEAL reunion July 16-18 on board JointExpeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story, Va.The event reunites active and retired Navy SEALsfor a weekend focused on NSW history, heritage andfamily support.“It’s the one time of the year that active andretired members of the [NSW] community can gettogether and swap stories and just hang out,” saidChuck Williams, UDT/SEAL Association presidentand event coordinator. “It’s a huge boost ofcamaraderie.”The annual reunion started in 1969 and hasexpanded into a weekend of events, contests andSEAL capabilities exercises.Tip of the Spear26

This year’s reunion began with areception commemorating the 50thanniversary of SEAL Team 2. Theweekend included a golf tournamentand skeet shoot competition,followed by a tennis tournament.Competitive sports are a mainstay atthe reunions, because they reinforcethe mentality of working togethertowards a common goal.“It’s a fraternal order,” saidWilliams. “These guys considerthemselves brothers no matter theage gap.”The crowning event of theweekend was the capabilitiesdemonstration, which showcasedUDT/SEAL tactics and equipment,while providing a brief history oftheir origins.Six thousand active duty andretired SEALs, along with theirfriends and families, and eventvolunteers, gathered at “E” beachwhere the Navy’s parachute team,the Leap Frogs, kicked things off bylanding with a wreath and anAmerican flag as the nationalanthem was sung.“The volunteer effort isoutstanding,” said Williams. “Wehad upwards of 50 people who cameto us and wanted to be a part of theevent.”The weekend celebration endedwith several events including abeach bash, which featured a liveband, and a picnic on Sunday.The U.S. Navy Demonstration parachuteteam, the Leap Frogs, perform a downplanemaneuver during a capabilitiesdemonstration at Joint ExpeditionaryBase Little Creek, Va., July 16. The NavalSpecial Warfare Community displayed itscapabilities as part of the 42nd UDT/SEALEast Coast Reunion celebrations. Photoby Navy Senior Chief Petty Officer RobertFluegel.Tip of the Spear27

First Lambertsen Award foroperational innovation awarded toMARSOC Non-Commissioned OfficerBy Tech. Sgt. Heather KellyUSSOCOM Public AffairsThe first Dr. Christian J. Lambertsen Award forOperational Innovation was recently awarded to MarineCorps Staff Sergeant Craig S. Cooper during a ceremony atthe 2011 Special Operations Forces and IndustrialConference formal dinner.The award recognizes extraordinary accomplishment ofa Special Operations Force member who creates anddelivers a new and important operational capability for SOF,Tip of the Spear28Adm. Eric T. Olson, USSOCOM formercommander, presents the first Dr. ChristianJ. Lambertsen Award to Staff Sgt. Craig S.Cooper while the sons of Dr. Lambertsenlook on. The award recognizesextraordinary accomplishments of aSpecial Operations Force member whocreates and delivers a new and importantoperational capability for SOF, consistentwith the innovative spirit personified by Dr.Lambertsen, a SOF pioneer in militaryoperations, spaceflight, and medicine.Photo by Mike Bottoms.consistent with the innovative spirit personified by Dr.Lambertsen, a SOF pioneer in military operations,spaceflight, and medicine.Currently serving as the Motor Transport Chief with 2ndMarine Special Operations Battalion at Camp Lejeune, N.C.,Cooper is the first person to be recognized with the honor.Deployed to Afghanistan during the summer of 2010, herecognized a critical need on the RG 31 and RG 33 armoredpersonnel carriers.“The vehicles came with an individual tool that onlyopens the doors on those vehicles,” Cooper said. “It was

large and held in by a pin on the side of the vehicle. Itweighed three or four pounds… too big to carry on yourgear.”Cooper explained that if your vehicle was disabled withan IED or rollover and that specific variant tool wasunusable, you couldn’t get the locks open.“We went down to the machine shop that SOCOM had,explained the idea and they put it together for us. The resultwas a multipurpose egress tool that we could carry on ourgear and it actually opened up all the blast locks on all thedifferent variants of vehicles,” Cooper said.A couple of months later, that initiative proved to becritical when returning from a forward operating base inAfghanistan. “We were coming back from setting up avillage stability platform, and it had been raining a fewdays,” Cooper explained.“We crossed the bridge and one of the guys in front ofme went to the left a little bit and the road gave way, whenwe started to pull the truck out, the road completely gaveway and he just rolled over on the driver side and went in thewater in about 5 or 6 feet of water.”“We climbed up on the truck and the tool that was on thevehicle was underwater so we couldn’t get to it and we didn’thave another variant of that vehicle so we climbed up thereand one of my guys said he couldn’t get it open so I told himto use the tool that he had on his vest. So he pulled that toolout and stuck it in the slot and opened the blast locks and wewere able to get all four of them out.”Although his team only had moments to react, Coopersaid panic never set in.“I had no time to think, it was just quick reaction: justget them out, get the truck out of the water and get down theroad. Everyone came out uninjured, except one troop with ascratch on his forehead.”Cooper credited the homegrown SOF multipurpose toolfor ease of egress.“We would have had a hard time getting them out ofthere without it. Granted, they would have eventually beenable to open the lock from the inside because they weren’thurt, but had they been hurt, we wouldn’t have been able toget them out so quickly. We probably had them out of thevehicle in less than two minutes.”It took an hour to get the vehicle completely out of thewater. By the time they recovered it, water had completelyfilled the cab, he said.When Cooper returned to base that night, he briefed hisexecutive officer on what had happened. He was notifiedabout the Lambertsen award shortly after.“It caught me off guard; I wasn’t expecting anything likethat. We knew we needed it, we just hoped we never had touse it,” Cooper said.“The award was humbling, as the first person to receiveit I hope there are more to be given out,” Cooper said. “It justproves that there is a lot of ingenuity in the services. Peoplethat are coming up with ideas are being recognized whenthey should be. It helps folks know they are doing the rightthing.”William Shepherd, SOCOM Science and Technologyadvisor, agreed.“As the first SOF award of its kind, this honors Dr.Lambertsen by recognizing individuals in the force whoinnovate,” Shepherd said. “Cooper certainly distinguishedhimself in a number of aspects. Not only did he bring thiscapability to being, but was also able to use it in a significantand meaningful way. We hope this award stimulates the otherStaff Sergeant Coopers who are out there. Innovation is a partof the SOF ethos.”Shepherd said that Adm. Eric T. Olson championed theidea of moving capabilities closer to the warfighter.“The Rapid Exploitation of Innovative Technology forSOF initiative is something relatively new to the command,”said Shepherd. “We began the experiment in 2009,establishing mobile shops, engineers and technologistsliterally on the battlefield. We knew that if we could get theright resources and talent in places that need it, good thingsare going to happen.”In this case, good things were delivered in the form oflives saved through the innovation of one Marine Corps staffnoncommissioned officer. Like his award’s namesake,Cooper said improving systems and resources comesnaturally to him.“My dad did stuff like this, invented things when he wasyoung,” Cooper said. “I guess it’s in my nature to do thesame. I have a habit of looking at something and seeingthings I’d do differently with it, it usually works out a lotbetter.”Cooper and Shepherd both encouraged all SOFservicemembers to do the same.“Anytime you come up with an idea that works or savesa life, or betters something around you, continue to push thatand don’t give it up,” Cooper said. “Just because one thingdoesn’t work doesn’t mean that you’re not going to come upwith something later down the road that will work. Nevergive up on that.”Tip of the Spear29

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Master Sgt. Karim Mella (right) displays theAmerican flag loaned to him from the Post 911Foundation atop of Mount Everest May 21. Mellais the first Dominican to climb Mount Everest.Courtesy photo.Tip of the Spear31

The view from near the top of MountEverest. Photo by Master Sgt. Karim Mella.At age 13, when most young boys are chasing soccerballs, baseballs and footballs, Karim Mella began chasing adream.“I decided to go to Everest in 1982…a long time ago. Isaid ‘I’m going to climb that mountain.’”Nearly 30 years later, Mella fulfilled that ambition,reaching the top of the famed peak May 21.The Dominican Republic native and U.S. Army MasterSgt. with Special Operations Command began climbingmountains in 1987.“My first high mountain was Pico Bolivar in Venezuela,I was 19-years-old,” he said. “I did that during my summervacation in my sophomore year of the naval academy. Afterthat I fell in love with mountaineering. Before that I was justdoing a lot of trekking through the mountains in theDominican Republic.”After graduating from high school, he attended theDominican Republic naval academy, spending two years asan ensign before immigrating to the United States, where hejoined the U.S. Army.“When I came to the United States, I started doing rockclimbing, eventually going back to mountaineering. I starteddoing high mountains like Aconcagua, Huascaran,Kilimanjaro, Kenya and Mount Denali in Alaska,” he said.His motivation to mountain climb, Mella explained, is acombination of many things.“One is to be out there in nature, another is you go therebecause of your efforts,” Mella said. “It’s not like you cantake a car and drive there; you have to fight and work to getto the top. And the view is just amazing; it basically showsyou how small you are in the big scheme of things. Somepeople think they can take over the world in a day but we’reso insignificant - the mountain shows you that.”Although he had successfully ascended high mountainsbefore, scaling Everest presented some unique trainingchallenges.Tip of the Spear32

“I compete in Iron Mans and triathlons, training forthose prepared me for the mountain,” he said. “Swim, runand bike with just a few changes here and there, but forEverest I also had to do stairs.”When referring to “stairs”, Mella does not mean theStairmaster machine at the local YMCA.“I received permission to train in the 43-story Bank ofAmerica building in downtown Tampa. I would climb itthree or four times depending on how fast I would do thatday. That was a part of my weekly training for Everest,” hesaid.Training solo, Mella maintained the routine for sixmonths.Throughout the rigorous training, Mella remained injuryfree,allowing him to set off for the two-month expeditionMarch 27, joining a team of 26 in Kathmandu, Nepal.Mella met with two other Dominican climbers and theyformed Team Excelsior, the first Dominican expedition to thetop of the world. At their arrival in Nepal, Excelsior joinedInternational Mountain Guides for the expedition.The team had to trek for two weeks before reaching basecamp. In the approach, Sgt. Mella experienced a cold andstomach flu that lasted five days. The second time, his illnessput him out for six days. Recovery at that altitude is veryslow, he said.“It’s something you can’t do anything about, but I neverlet that get to my head,” Mella said. “I just concentrated ondoing everything I had to do to recover: getting medicine,resting, getting fluids, that was my main job.”Throughout the journey, the original team had dividedinto several groups. When a member of the group falls ill,the team progresses on. Mella had to catch up after herecovered.“In the end, I was only one day behind my originalgroup. My climbing partner was with me and the two of usmade up the third group. When the group in front of us wentto summit, there was a big storm and some of them had to berescued. One suffered frostbite. They had a really bad timeon the mountain.”Once he reached the summit, Mella said the climb, thesuffering, the hard work, the two months away from homeand all the cold was worth it.“The feeling I got when I got to the summit, I could tellyou but it really wouldn’t describe it,” he said. “It’s a surrealexperience, seeing the curvature of the earth and whereyou’re standing, that’s priceless.”In addition to his gear and supplies, Mella carriedsomething else with him along the journey to the top of theworld.“The American flag that I took was a loan from the Post911 Foundation,” Mella said. “It will be returning to NewYork for the 10-year memorial at Ground Zero.”The Post 911 Foundation is led by veteran firstresponders, military veterans, and local communityorganizers to provide direct support to those serving thenation in battle and emergency response services.According to the foundation, the “Follow the Flag”campaign strives to inspire those in need through thesymbolism of the American flag. To demonstrate there is noplace on earth too remote or too challenging for military andfirst responders, the flag flown over Ground Zero themorning after September 11 was with Mella when heascended the peak.Although the original team was made up of 26 people,only 19 made it to the summit. One member died and therest abandoned the expedition.When a fatality occurs, Mella said maintaining focus iscritical.“As a climber you have to shield yourself from eventslike that, you cannot carry that tragedy with you on themountain, because you can end up like that,” he said. “Ifyour mind is not with you in the mountain, it’s verydangerous. When that happens you feel really sorry and bad,in some ways it’s like combat: you need to put it aside andcontinue the mission, in an expedition it’s no different.”“When you are up there and see all the mountains andridges around, you really look inside and say ‘I’m nothing,I’m not even a mark.’ That really makes you think aboutwhat you are experiencing and what you are looking at andseeing.”While Sir Edmund Hillary may have been the first toascend the mountain in 1953, Mella became the firstDominican to successfully reach the top of the peak. Thefeat garnered him many accolades when he arrived home.Only one other member of Team Excelsior successfullymade the ascent.“After our return from Everest, we met the President ofthe Dominican Republic during a small ceremony at theNational Palace,” he said. “I also received a plaque from theDominican Navy's Chief of staff and my DominicanRepublic Naval Academy class. It was a huge honor.”Humbled and invigorated by the experience, Mella saidhis next journey will take him to the world’s second-tallestpeak.Tip of the Spear33

Internationalperspectivesconverge to promote global securityStory and photos By Staff Sgt. Ryan O’HareUSSOCOM Strategic CommunicationsUnited States Special Operations Command hostedSovereign Challenge VII, June 6-9, in the heart of thenations’ largest Arab-American community, Dearborn,Mich.Sovereign Challenge is a USSOCOM StrategicCommunications-sponsored international engagementprogram focused on defending the sovereignty of nationsand how extremism threatens that independence. Thisconference, titled “Minorities and Ethnic Groups:Separation, Assimilation and Radicalization,”highlighted the possibility of extremism potentiallyarising out of ethnic and minority groups within anation.Stan Schrager, Sovereign Challenge Coordinator,says the conference provides a venue for representativesfrom participating nations to foster relationships andshare national policies, positions, and ideas related tosovereignty, security and associated threats. Participantfeedback helps the conference progress. This year’sevent included more than 80 government and civilianattachés from 55 countries, as well as influentialImam Sayid Hassan Al-Qazwini, Islamic Center of America scholar and religious leader, educates Sovereign Challenge VIIguests about America’s largest Arab-American community, Dearborn, Mich. Sovereign Challenge is a United States SpecialOperations Command-sponsored international engagement program, focusing on defending the sovereignty of nations. Thisconference, titled “Minorities and Ethnic Groups: Separation, Assimilation and Radicalization,” highlighted thepossibility of extremism potentially arising out of ethnic and minority groups within a nation.Tip of the Spear34

community, political and religious leaders.According to Brig. Gen. Peter Resch,Austrian Defense Attaché, the interactionamong participants and the lessons learnedfrom each Sovereign Challenge event can beapplied globally. The evolution of theconference has been valuable.“I would describe Sovereign Challengeas a platform for exchange of views,” saidResch. “What is real interesting to me is thechanging of Sovereign Challenge over theyears. In the beginning it was a militaryplatform, the participants were soldiers andwe always wanted to integrate more andmore law enforcement and political attachés.When I look now to this conference, it’swhat we wanted, and this is great.”The cultural diversity of SovereignChallenge VII attendees creates anopportunity for a variety of perspectives tobe presented. Throughout the four-dayconference, 26 guest speakers and subjectmatter experts from diverse backgrounds discussed theconference topics and how they affect their country.“I would say that nearly all nations deal with thisissue – in some it is more significant than others –but intoday’s world, the movement of ethnic and nationalgroups and minorities, which is common, clearly altersthe character of a nation,” said Schrager. “These groupsmay remain separate though they may reside in ournations, they may assimilate, or they may becomeradicalized – we call it ‘homegrown terrorism’.”The conference’s location complemented its theme.Of approximately 100,000 people residing in Dearborn,nearly 45,000 are Arab-Americans. The city’s diverseheritage is traced back to the early 20th century, whenLebanese immigrants came in large numbers seekingemployment in the local automotive industry. Since thattime, immigrants from Iraq, Yemen and other Middle-Eastern countries have also immigrated, creating amelting pot of Arab-American culture.Attendees visited the Arab-American NationalMuseum, the first museum in the world devoted to Arab-American history and culture. Robert Stockton, professorof Political Science at the University of Michigan,Dearborn campus, spoke with the conference guestsSovereign Challenge VII guests address issues concerning their countriesduring a discussion group. Panels and discussion groups accompany dailyconference presentations, allowing more in-depth communication amonginternational participants. This year’s event, located in Dearborn Mich.,included more than 80 government and civilian attachés from 55 countries.regarding Arab integration into Dearborn and the effectsof 9/11 on the community.Although the Arab-American community inDearborn grieved along with the rest of the nation, theywere instantly viewed as a threat.“I wish I could take you back to September 12th,”said Stockton.”I can’t tell you the level of shock. It waschilling. We didn’t know what was happening next.”In addition to the AANM, Dearborn is home to theIslamic Center of America, the largest Muslim mosque inNorth America. These notable facilities, supported by thecities unique ethnic identity, are a paradigm of Arabintegration into America’s heartland.The documentary film, “Fordson the Movie: Faith,Fasting, and Football” features another Dearbornlandmark, Fordson High School. The film looks at theschool’s football players and how a student bodycomprised of 95 percent Arab-Americans impacts theteam, especially after 9/11. Conference attendeeswatched a private screening of the film.“I think it’s an interesting lesson,” said Schrager.“It’s about more than American football, obviously. It’s aparable, a metaphor. I think it fits in very well with thetheme of this conference about minorities and ethnicTip of the Spear35

groups and their valued place inAmerican society.”The following day commencedwith a panel discussion titled the“Dearborn Experience.” Its focus brought communityleaders, including the mayor, chief of police and localimam, together to educate attendees on issues affectingDearborn.“Muslims live in the Unites States in peace. Andespecially in this beautiful city, the city of Dearborn,”said Imam Sayid Hassan Al-Qazwini, the religiousleader at the Islamic Center of America. “They are asnormal as any other American individual or citizen.They love America. And they eat like Americans. Theydream like Americans. They laugh like Americans.”As part of the afternoon agenda, the conferencefocus shifted from local demographics to internationalterrorism concerns. Peter Bergen, CNN national securityanalyst and author, presented his global view on violentextremism, particularly thefuture of al-Qaida in the MiddleEast after the death of Osamabin Laden.“Al Qaida and its allieshave been losing the war ofideas in the Muslim world for along time,” said Bergen. “Thedeath of bin Laden and the ArabSpring have accelerated this process.”Panels and discussion groups accompanied theconference presentations, allowing more in-depthcommunication among participants.“These discussion groups are intentionally structuredto have a mix of countries talking about these topicstogether,” said Schrager. “It’s a way to continue themain conference topics in a more intimate, informalenvironment. The ongoing dialogue via theseconferences, seminars and other appropriate forumsenhances security within the global environment.”Before a private tour of the Henry Ford Museum,Adm. Eric T. Olson, USSOCOM Commander, spokewith the audience and expressed his gratitude for theirinterest and participation in Sovereign Challenge VII.“We do intend that Sovereign Challenge is a forumfor discovery, for casual conversations, for buildingrelationships, for learning from one another,” said Olson.“I believe it’s a very important topic to address, at this“We cannot fear, it will defeat us.Victory is no entitlement, but anobligation to our future.”Dr. Shanthikumar Hettiarachchiparticular conference, at this particular time. We’redealing with issues that strike at the soul of who peopleare and what they stand for. I would say that it is notalways about what people think; it is often about whatpeople believe that is the subject of this conference. Ithank you for being here. I thank you for being activeparticipants.”The following day commenced with a presentationtitled “Homegrown Terrorism: Prevent, Pursue, andEngage.” It focused on ethnic and minority groupsincreasing within global capitals and suburbs. Accordingto Dr. Shanthikumar Hettiarachchi, a religion, conflictand social cohesion lecturer and consultant from SriLanka, many homegrown terrorists are second or thirdgeneration citizens searching for a new identity. Theseindividuals are often mentored from terrorist groupsoverseas with a religiously motivated agenda.According to Hettiarachchi, these ideals must becountered early in order to prevent future attacks.Communities must study,analyze, monitor, pursue andengage these individuals.Community engagementprevents radicalization in apractical way. It encouragespeople to fall back oncommunity to counter terrorism,because violent behavior provesunproductive. It helps individuals understand and respectpeople’s values, cultural norms, social etiquette andbehaviors.“We cannot fear, it will defeat us,” saidHettiarachchi. “Victory is no entitlement, but anobligation to our future.”With terrorists using the Internet as an open forumto spread their violent propaganda worldwide, lawenforcement agencies are playing a larger role in effortsto counter terrorism.International Law Enforcement attachés providedinsight into issues they face. In addition to variouscommunity engagements, a European Union programcalled “Check the Web” finds, translates and assessesvarious documents posted on extremist websites. Checkthe Web is used as an information portal for nations toanalyze information from more than 400 web sitesworldwide. It includes statements, videos and audio filesfrom multiple terrorist networks. Used to combatTip of the Spear36

(Left) George Selim, Department of Homeland Security guest speaker, speaks with Stan Schrager, Sovereign Challenge VIIcoordinator, regarding America’s largest Arab-American community. The conference, located in Dearborn, Mich., provides avenue for representatives from participating nations to foster relationships and share national policies, positions and ideas.Thecultural diversity of this year’s event, including more than 80 government and civilian attachés from 55 countries, creates anopportunity for a variety of perspectives to be presented.terrorist propaganda, it is increasingly recognized withinthe EU Member State Counter Terrorism community as apoint of reference for documenting extremist web sitesand material. Once credible information’s discovered, it’sshared with international agencies to counter the terroristthreat.The conference agenda featured other topicsincluding U.S. border security and programs designed tode-radicalize extremists before, or even after, they havecommitted a terrorist act.The final day of Sovereign Challenge VII continuedthe issue of countering violent extremism. The first paneldiscussion titled “Use of Sports to Reduce Radicalizationof Youth,” encouraged bringing adolescents togetherthrough team sports to promote positive values and lifeskills. These values, such as leadership, cooperation andconflict resolution, enhance relationships within adiverse community. Over time, coaches and staff becomepositive role models to the players. Various countriesworldwide have implemented sports programs, reducingstress and tension among youth and providingconstructive alternatives to gang activity and violence.Concluding the conference presentations, arepresentative from the Department of HomelandSecurity discussed the importance of protectingAmericans and their values, regardless of ethnicbackground. Additionally, he spoke about communityinvolvement and public engagement programs fosteringdomestic and international benefit.“One of the specialties of Sovereign Challenge is theglobal approach,” said Resch. “It’s easy in a region tofind agreements to common problems because we have asimilar approach to the problem. If you discuss the sameproblem with someone from Indonesia, you discover adifferent dimension of the same problem. This issomething we very often forget.”For more information on the Sovereign Challengeprogram visit www.sovereignchallenge.org.Tip of the Spear37

Tech. Sgt.John W. BrownStaff Sgt.Andrew W. HarvellTech. Sgt.Daniel L. ZerbeStaff Sgt.Patrick R. DolphinSgt.Dennis E. KanclerSgt.Christopher M. WrinklePetty Officer 1st Class(SEAL)Darrik C. BensonChief Petty Officer(SEAL)Brian R. BillPetty Officer 1st Class(SEAL)Christopher G. CampbellPetty Officer 1st ClassJared W. DayPetty Officer 1st ClassJohn DouangdaraChief Petty Officer(SEAL)John W. FaasTip of the Spear38

Chief Petty Officer(SEAL)Kevin A. HoustonLt. Cmdr.(SEAL)Jonas B. KelsallMaster Chief Petty Officer(SEAL)Louis J. LanglaisChief Petty Officer(SEAL)Matthew D. MasonChief Petty Officer(SEAL)Stephen M. MillsChief Petty OfficerNicholas H. NullPetty Officer 1st Class(SEAL)Jesse D. PittmanSenior Chief Petty Officer(SEAL)Thomas A. RatzlaffChief Petty Officer(SEAL)Robert J. ReevesChief Petty Officer(SEAL)Heath M. RobinsonPetty Officer 2nd Class(SEAL)Nicholas P. SpeharPetty Officer 1st ClassMichael J. StrangePetty Officer 1st Class(SEAL)Jon T. TumilsonPetty Officer 1st Class(SEAL)Aaron C. VaughnSenior Chief Petty OfficerKraig M. VickersPetty Officer 1st Class(SEAL)Jason R. WorkmanBartMilitary Working DogStaff Sgt.Francis T. CampionStaff Sgt.Wyatt A. GoldsmithCapt.John D. HortmanStaff Sgt.Jeremy A. KatzenbergerSgt.Alessandro L. PlutinoChief Warrant OfficerSteven B. ReddSgt.Alexander J. BennettChief Warrant OfficerDavid R. CarterSpec.Spencer C. DuncanSgt.Patrick D. HamburgerChief Warrant OfficerBryan J. NicholsEditor’s note: Honored are SpecialOperations Forces and conventional forcessupporting SOF missions who lost theirlives since June’s Tip of the Spear.Tip of the Spear39

Then Staff Sgt. Leroy A. Petry (2nd row, 3rdfrom left) stands with 2nd Ranger Battalionduring the 2008 deployment to Afghanistan.Petry received the Medal of Honor fromPresident Barack Obama during a ceremonyin the East Room of the White House July 12.Petry distinguished himself by acts ofgallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his lifeabove and beyond the call of duty in actionwith an armed enemy in the vicinity of PaktyaProvince, Afghanistan, on May 26, 2008.